During the spring semester, the School of Social Work awards scholarships made possible through gifts from alumni and friends.  Scholarships, based on need and merit, are given to returning enrolled students and are awarded as incentives to competitive applicants.

Below are the scholarship funds that can be awarded to MSW students:

• The Melvarene Johnson Adair Scholarship Fund was established in 2006 by Kenneth B. Howard to honor his mother, Melvarene Johnson Howard Adair, MSW ''76. The scholarship is for any MSW student who is in good academic standing and demonstrates financial need.

• The Annie Kizer Bost Award is given annually to the graduating student who, in the opinion of the faculty, shows the greatest potential for service to the public welfare system of North Carolina. Founded during Mrs. Bost’s lifetime largely through the efforts of Dr. Arthur Fink, then Dean of the School, and Mrs. P. O. Cain, the first award was given in October, 1961. Mrs. Bost, a native of Rowan County and a 1903 graduate of what is now The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, served as State Commissioner of Public Welfare from 1930 to 1944 and was honored with an LL.D. degree by UNC- Greensboro in 1942. She died in 1961.

• The Chaney-Jacobs-Preyer Scholarship Fund was established in 2005 by L. Richardson Preyer, Jr. and Marilyn Jacobs Preyer in consideration of their abiding interest in the School of Social Work and concern for helping students with financial need. Recipients will have demonstrated a sound academic record and financial need.

• The Armfield Scholarship Fund was established by friends of the School of Social Work to promote racial and cultural diversity within the student body. Awards will be given to students who bring diversity to the School and who are in financial need. This award is intended primarily for first-year students.

• The Culbertson Fund for student support was established by Robert and Peggy Culbertson of Charlotte to support students in good academic standing from the Charlotte/ Mecklenberg County area who demonstrate financial need. The fund gives priority to those who intend to return to that area for professional employment.

• The William E. and Catherine M. Cummins Award is awarded annually in the spring to a student who, in the opinion of the faculty, field instructors, community representatives and fellow students, demonstrates outstanding school social work practice through their creativity, knowledge and skill, and adherence to social work ethics. Named in memory of Bill and Cathy Cummins, it recognizes their commitment to children, families and teaching by example.

• The Martha Sherill Dunn Financial Assistance Fund helps students with clear financial need and who have chosen the academic area of children and families. Preference is given to students who are from or who may plan to work in 1) Hertford County, 2) the Roanoke-Chowan area, or 3) rural North Carolina.

• The Bertie Oscar Edwards Award was established in memory of Dr. Edwards. It is for students in good academic standing. Preference is given to students from Western North Carolina who have an interest in domestic violence, child abuse, severe and persistent mental illness, or mental health services.

• The Joanna Finkelstein Gorham scholarship was established by Louise H. Finkelstein in memory of her daughter Joanna Finkelstein Gorham. It is for any student who is in financial need and in good academic standing.

• The Kirsten E. Hewitt Memorial Scholarship was established in 2000 after the tragic death of Kirsten Hewitt, a '97 graduate of the School of Social Work's Advanced Standing MSW program The fund supports MSW students in financial need and in good academic standing, particularly those interested in working with the elderly population.

• The Alan Keith-Lucas Scholarship was established by the School of Social Work alumni and friends of Dr. Keith-Lucas to honor and memorialize him and his work with children. Preference is to support students in the distance education program.

• The Jeffrey Langston Memorial Fund was established after the tragic death of a Charlotte student in 1990. Jeffrey Langston's family, classmates, and friends raised the funds to establish a permanent endowment. The fund is for support of students who are working with emotionally or conduct-disordered youth, especially those at high risk for out-of-home placement or involvement with the juvenile justice system. This is in recognition of Jeff's work with youth.

• The Maynard Scholars and Lecture Program was established in 2005 by James and Connie Maynard. Recipients will have an interest in management and community practice and/or the nonprofit certificate program, and will have demonstrated a sound academic record and financial need.

• The Betsy Rogers Millar Scholarship Fund was established in 1989 by Dr. Jack R. Millar to honor his wife’s dedication to helping others. Students who have demonstrated financial need, have a strong academic standing, and demonstrate a spirit of exceptional commitment and caring for those in need will be considered for this award.

• The Meehan Scholarship was established in 2005 by Peter and Prue Meehan of Chapel Hill to support MSW students, particularly students that enhance the social, economic and cultural diversity of the student body.

• The Jane Curtis Parker Scholarship, established by the family and friends of Jane Curtis Parker, 1954 alumna of the School of Social Work, is awarded to a rising second-year student whose qualities embody Mrs. Parker’s approach in professional life: compassion, social justice, courage, and acting as an inspiration to others.
   
• The Joan Phillips-Trimmer Memorial Scholarship was established in 2009 by Carol Phillips Oettinger in memory of her beloved daughter Joan Phillips-Trimmer. Joan was a distance education MSW student who died suddenly just prior to completing the program in 2009.   Preference is given to students in a distance education program.

• The Ellen E. Power Award was established by Ellen E. Power who is an alumna of UNC-CH with a great interest in, and love for the School of Social Work. It is for any student who is in financial need, in good academic standing, and interested in clinical practice

• The Kenneth C. Royall, Jr. Scholarship was established in honor of Kenneth C. Royall, Jr. who was extremely active in civic affairs and served on the boards of numerous community organizations. He was a member of the NC Legislature and the senior budget advisor for the State of North Carolina. The funds from this scholarship are distributed to masters or doctoral students who are interested in mental health issues.

• The Janice Hough Schopler Scholarship was established by her husband the late Dr. John Schopler to memorialize his wife, a former associate dean of our school. These funds are used to assist students in financial need and good academic standing.

• The Social Justice Scholarship Fund was established by the Edelman Foundation and Friends of the School of Social Work and the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Social Work Foundation, Inc. for the purpose of providing scholarships to students who would increase the diversity of our student body. David A. Edelman is an alumnus of our school. Preference is given to students in financial need, in good academic standing, and bring diversity to our school.
• The Florence Soltys Scholarship was established in 2007 in memory of Florence Soltys who was a distinguished faculty member at the School of Social Work. Preference is given to students who have chosen to work in the field of serving the aging population.
• The Linda M. Summer Field Placement Scholarship was established in 2006. Preference is given to students who have a field placement in areas related to mental health.

• The Tannenbaum Student Support Fund was established by the Tannenbaum-Sternberger Foundation in 1990. Awards are made to students in good academic standing who are doing field placements in agencies in Guilford County.

• The Kristin Marie Ten Harmsel Anderson Memorial Scholarship was made possible by family and friends of this graduate of the School’s MSW program to memorialize her, and to recognize her devotion to helping persons in need, especially children. Preference is given to out-of-state students.

• The Smith P. Theimann, Jr. Scholarship Fund was established in 2004. Mr. Theimann was a '44 graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill's MSW program, and he was a strong supporter of the School of Social Work for many years. This fund supports students in financial need and in good academic standing.

• The Walsh-Cioffi Scholarhip Fund was established in 2005 by Frank E. Walsh, Jr., and Meghan (MSW '98) and Rob Cioffi and the Sandy Hill Foundation. Recipients will have demonstrated a sound academic record and financial need.

• The Ellen Black Winston Scholarship Award was established by the NC Conference for Social Services to honor Dr. Winston’s life. Preference is given to, but not limited to, students who demonstrate an interest in public policy and who work, or are interested in working, to support progressive social legislation, and have a commitment to helping women, children, and older adults in need.

State and other awards

Dean’s Research Awards (DRA) are funded by the School of Social Work. DRA recipients may work on a faculty research project, learn about fundraising in the development office, be involved in the evaluation of a school program, or assist with the planning of special campus events or conferences. DRA positions are an opportunity to receive professional mentorship. Awards are offered to students whose academic preparation, experience, and leadership capacity show particular promise for contributions to the field of social work.  This award is given to in-state students, and the average award is $6,500 per academic year and student health insurance is provided. Tuition is not included.  The award requires the student to serve as a Research Assistant for a faculty member 8 hours/week.

Student employment and assistantships at the School of Social Work
The School of Social Work provides funds for student jobs such as research assistant positions, program assistant positions, building monitors and computer lab monitors.  Positions are typically 4-8 hours/week.  Position descriptions are posted online in early August. Interested students may view job descriptions and apply online.  Questions about student positions may be directed to Sharon Holmes Thomas at (919) 962-4367 or sholmes@email.unc.edu.

North Carolina Child Welfare Education Collaborative
The collaborative seeks to strengthen public child welfare services in the state by increasing the number and diversity of well-trained and highly committed MSW's in local departments of social services (DSS). The collaborative offers financial support to selected social work graduate students who commit to employment in a county or state DSS position following graduation. The collaborative pays in-state tuition for all students in the program. Additionally, full-time students receive an annual living award, and part-time students receive financial support for books and travel expenses. Eligibility is not based on financial need but on commitment to child welfare.

North Carolina Society for Clinical Social Work
Established in 1982, the scholarship is awarded annually to a graduating student in recognition of promise in the field of clinical social work. Applicants must be in good academic standing and submit a case summary. A subcommittee of the society distributes the application guidelines in January and selects the scholarship recipient by April. A few field placement agencies offer stipends. Contact the Field Education Office for more information.

Research Assistantships and Contract Teaching